“2020 may see more smartphones sporting 108-megapixel sensors, foldable screens, fifth-gen cellular connectivity, super-fast charging, and more”
In an earlier piece, we discussed trends that defined smartphones in 2019. Let’s now take a look at the smartphone technologies that are likely to become a trend in 2020. The pop-up selfie camera and waterdrop notch display are passé now, and we may see OEMs implementing high screen-to-body ratio in new ways. Apart from this, we can expect more phones with over 100-megapixel resolution, super-fast charging tech, foldable screen, and more to be standard fare in 2020 offerings.
Here are the top 5 smartphone technologies that will likely become mainstream in 2020:
108MP camera sensor
Smartphones with 108MP sensor are likely to become commonplace in 2020. Xiaomi has already launched the Mi Note 10 smartphone with the sensor, while Realme and Samsung are also expected to join in as early as next year with their respective Realme X50 and Samsung Galaxy S11 series offerings. While the Realme X50 will employ Samsung's ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor with 108MP resolution, the Galaxy S11 series is tipped to feature a superior Bright HMX sensor. There is only Samsung's sensor with over a 100-megapixel resolution is available at the moment, but we can expect Sony to join in soon.
Penta-camera setup
Apart from the sensor, penta-camera setup is also expected to pick up pace in 2020. We've already seen a handful of smartphones being launched with the array of sensors last year, namely Nokia 9 PureView and Mi Note 10. Handsets with as many as five cameras are believed to offer more diversity and features compared to the quad-camera or triple-camera phones.
100W fast-charging
100W fast-charging support could be the benchmark of smartphones in 2020. Xiaomi has introduced 100W Super Charge Turbo fast charging tech that is rated to juice up a 4,000mAh battery in just 17 minutes, while Vivo is working on 120W fast charging tech that takes just 12 minutes to charge a 4,000mAh battery. Both OEMs are expected to debut the technology in their smartphones this year. It'll be only a matter of time before Realme, Huawei, and other vendors also decide to launch smartphones with the astounding fast charging tech.
Foldable Design
Arguably, foldable smartphones were the find of 2019. Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei have already tried their hands on the handsets with the foldable screen, and in 2020, more OEMs are likely to join the bandwagon. Xiaomi has been teasing its foldable smartphone for a while now whereas designs of Vivo and OPPO's foldable phones have been doing the rounds off the internet. Additionally, Samsung's second-generation foldable smartphone, allegedly dubbed as Galaxy Fold 2, is expected just ahead of MWC too. We can expect more brands to join the fray next in 2020.
5G
5G will be at full swing this year and we may see more smartphones being launched with the fifth-generation cellular connectivity. A handful of these handsets could make its way to India as well, provided telcos such as Airtel and Jio have their infrastructure. OnePlus is testing its 5G phone in India, while Realme has confirmed to launch such offerings in the country.
While these technologies will be the key selling points for smartphones in 2020, there could be more surprises in stores. The phonemakers could push the boundaries and introduce the in-display fingerprint scanner in the budget segment as well; wireless charging in affordable flagships; periscope-style camera setup with 10x and 15x optical zoom for lossless images in premium segment devices; and more. Stay tuned to 91mobiles, for all the updates!
